Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFUVIT7’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemu m plant named ‘DLFUVIT7’, characterized by its upright plant habit; uniform growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; strong upright flowering stems; daisy-type inflorescences with purplish red purple-colored ray florets and yellow green-colored disc florets; resistance to Fusarium and White Rust; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFUVIT7’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

A Columbian Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on May 26, 2020, application number A202657. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assignee claim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium, typically grown as a cut flower Chrysanthemum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘DLFUVIT7’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut flower Chrysanthemum plants with numerous attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination in September, 2013 of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db 81052, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db 37566, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in April, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetative terminal cuttings since April, 2014 in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DLFUVIT7’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DLFUVIT7’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; uniform growth habit.     -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Strong upright flowering stems.     -   5. Daisy-type inflorescences with purplish red purple-colored         ray florets and yellow green-colored disc florets.     -   6. Resistant to Fusarium and White Rust.     -   7. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are purplish red in color whereas ray florets of plants of the female parent selection are deep red in color. In addition, ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum have obtuse to shallowly retuse apices whereas ray florets of plants of the female parent selection have pointed apices.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are purplish red in color whereas ray florets of plants of the male parent selection are purplish pink in color. In addition, margins of ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are more involute than margins of ray florets of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Chicle’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of ‘Chicle’ in ray floret color as plants of the new Chrysanthemum have purplish red-colored ray florets whereas plants of plants of ‘Chicle’ have reddish purple-colored ray florets. In addition, ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum have obtuse to shallowly retuse apices whereas ray florets of plants of ‘Chicle’ have emarginate apices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘DLFUVIT7’ grown as a spray-type cut flower.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of upper (top of the photographic sheet) and lower (bottom of the photographic sheet) surfaces of typical leaves (left) and inflorescences (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late spring in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and light levels averaged 8 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem spray-type plants and were eleven weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFUVIT7’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db             81052, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db             37566, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 13 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 15 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically creamy white in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous decorative-type cut             flower that is typically grown as a single stem spray-type;             upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth             rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 86.7             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence             plane.—About 94.6 cm.         -   Plant (spray) diameter.—About 18.8 cm.         -   Flowering stem length.—About 85.2 cm.         -   Flowering stem diameter.—About 7 mm.         -   Flowering stem internode length.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flowering stem strength.—Strong.         -   Flowering stem aspect.—Erect.         -   Flowering stem texture and luster.—Densely pubescent;             slightly glossy.         -   Flowering stem color, developing.—Close to 144A.         -   Flowering stem color, developed.—Close to 146B; at the             nodes, tinged with close to 152B.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 12.3 cm. Width: About 8.4 cm. Shape, in outline:             Broadly ovate to elliptic. Apex: Abruptly acute, minute.             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed, coarsely serrate             to dentate; sinuses convergent and medium to deep in depth.             Texture and luster, upper surface: Moderately pubescent, not             rugose; slightly velvety; slightly glossy. Texture and             luster, lower surface: Densely pubescent, prominent             venation; slightly velvety; very slightly glossy. Venation             pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Color: Developing leaves,             upper surface: Close to 143A. Developing leaves, lower             surface: Close to 146B. Fully developed leaves, upper             surface: Slightly darker than NN137A; venation, close to             146B. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B;             venation, close to 146B. Petioles: Length: About 1.7 cm.             Diameter: About 3 mm by 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately to             densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface:             Close to 147C; edges, close to NN137C. Color, lower surface:             Close to 146B; edges, close to 147B. Stipules: Quantity and             appearance: Two leafy stipules, opposite, at the petiole             attachment to the stem. Length: About 7 mm. Width: About             2.5 mm. Shape, in outline: Lanceolate. Texture and luster,             upper surface: Moderately pubescent; slightly glossy.             Texture and luster, lower surface: Densely pubescent; very             slightly glossy. Color: Upper surface: Slightly darker than             NN137A; venation, close to 146B. Lower surface: Close to             147B; venation, close to 146B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Spray-type inflorescence form with             obovate-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets;             inflorescences borne perpendicular to peduncles and face             upright; ray and disc florets develop acropetally on a             capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; typical of Chrysanthemums.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower             in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other             times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development             can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at             least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and             short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long             day/short night conditions after planting followed by             photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about             50 days later when grown as a spray-type.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity;             after a seven-day storage period, cut flowers will maintain             good color and substance for about 14 to 16 days in an             interior environment; inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Typically grown as a spray-type,             about 18 inflorescences develop per flowering stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter, grown as a spray-type: About             6.4 cm. Depth (height), grown as a spray-type: About 2.4 cm.             Disc diameter: About 1.5 cm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 6 mm.             Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 145C.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 7 mm. Diameter: About             1.5 cm. Shape: Reniform. Texture and luster: Distally,             smooth and glabrous; proximally, sparsely to moderately             pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 137A to 137B and             towards the base, close to 138A; immature ray florets, close             to N77B.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 34 arranged in             about two whorls. Length: About 3.9 cm, varying between 3.5             cm and 4.3 cm. Width: About 1.1 cm, varying between 0.8 cm             and 1.2 cm. Shape: Obovate; mostly flat, slightly carinate.             Apex: Obtuse to shallowly retuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire; not undulate. Aspect: About 10° to 60° from             vertical. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety; very slightly glossy. Texture and luster,             lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; very slightly velvety;             slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface:             Slightly darker than 71A. When opening, lower surface: Close             to between 70A and 70B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close             to 71A; towards the base, darker than 71A; venation, similar             to lamina color; with development, color becoming closer to             71B. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to N75A to N75B;             venation, similar to lamina color; color becoming closer to             N75B to N75C with development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 220 massed at             the center of the receptacle. Length: About 6 mm. Diameter:             About 1 mm. Shape: Lower 85% fused into a tube; upper 15%             free. Apex: Narrowly acute. Margin, free-part: Entire.             Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; glossy. Color, when opening, inner and outer             surfaces: Close to 145C; towards the apex, close to 154D; at             the apex, close to N144B. Color, fully opened, inner and             outer surfaces: Close to 145C; towards the apex, close to             154D; apex tinged with close to N144B.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 22             arranged in about two whorls. Length: About 9 mm. Width:             About 3 mm. Shape: Ovate to narrowly ovate. Apex: Obtuse.             Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Sparsely to moderately pubescent; matte. Color,             upper surface: Slightly darker than 143A; lateral margins,             translucent and close to 157C and apical margins, close to             N199A. Color, lower surface: Close to 137A to 137B; lateral             margins, translucent and close to 157D and apical margins,             close to N199A.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 6.2 cm.             Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 3 mm. Length, third             peduncle: About 7.1 cm. Diameter, third peduncle: About             3 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Upright.             Aspect, third peduncle: About 35° from the flowering stem             axis. Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent; slightly             glossy. Color: More intense than 143A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity: About five per floret. Filament length:             About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to 145B. Anther size:             About 0.5 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther             color: Close to 151B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:             Close to 14A. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc             florets. Quantity: One per floret. Pistil length: About             4.5 mm. Style length: About 4 mm. Style color: Close to             N144D. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft,             decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 153D. Ovary color: Close             to 157C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have             not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have     been observed to be resistant to Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium oxysporum     spp. chrysanthemi (strain FoNL1)) and White Rust (Puccinia     horiana P. Henn. (strain PhNL1)). To date, plants of the new     Chrysanthemum have not been observed to be resistant to pests and     other pathogens common to Chrysanthemum plants grown under     commercial conditions. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to     35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFUVIT7’ as illustrated and described. 